Middle size in a range of five Wave Twins that RRD have introduced for ’09 for those “wishing to take their riding to another level”. They are also claimed to be “easy to sail and excellent for jumping.”

Design: Like the smaller Wave Twin we tested earlier this season the 82 has a notably narrow tail and wide nose. Despite being only 231cm it doesn’t feel at all short. The rocker is typical of the rockerline found in most RRD waveboards which is to say that it has a relatively fast rocker with a particularly long planing flat (late 2cm point). It is a low vee hull, almost flat through the tail, but without the single concave of its smaller sibling. Rocker in the nose stays quite low by wave standards.

On the water: You know you are riding a twinser and definitely need to make the adjustment by keeping pressure off the tail and not pushing too hard upwind or into jump take-offs. However, although this will not suit certain styles or types of waveboard use the adjustment is pretty easy to make. Once made, the 82 is actually a very easy board to sail. It stays very flat fore-to-aft, its speed onto the plane is slightly better than average for a waveboard and it is easier than most to cruise around on, keeping going well through lulls. If you discount the skatiness, the ride it gives feels similar to an extremely loose and manoeuvrable freestyle-wave. It jumps quite well and is pretty easy to tack and gybe but is most fun for riding.

While it doesn’t feel quite as connected and carvy as many waveboards, it is extremely redirectable and loose and keeps speed very well. We found it particularly good for playing both frontside and backside in small to medium waves where it doesn’t seem to need excessive skill or commitment to get round the turns and where the wide nose gives good flow and push off the top turns.

Fittings: The pads and straps are comfortable with the shock absorbed heel pads particularly comfortable for jumping. The 16cm fins are fine though those with a heavier back foot might wish to experiment with slightly bigger ones given the low grip nature of the tail.

Overall: Although the low grip tail and twinser set up requires a sensitive back foot the 82 is not a technical or specialist waveboard. It is easy to sail, pretty quick for a waveboard and jumps, goes upwind, tacks and gybes much like a wave oriented freestyle-wave.

However, you would buy it mainly for its riding, where its style seems very well suited to onshore ‘south coast’ type waves, and it just doesn’t seem to punish poor technique as much as many boards (which may be just as good or better when pushed really hard by skilled sailors.)

It will carry up to about 5.8m but doesn’t benefit much from sails above 5.5m. Similarly the wide nose and long flat makes it less suited than some waveboards to very strong conditions. So its forte is medium winds in small to medium waves, where it will suit a wide range of weights (c. 70-87kg) and abilities of sailor. It is an easy board to look and feel good on when riding.